Dallas Stars Blog

Player Profiles: Stephane Robidas

We’ll take a look at the top 30 players in the Stars system (the 23 likely to make the opening roster, plus seven more who could have a chance to play in the NHL this season) over the next month in our annual Player Profiles. Today, we look at defenseman Stephane Robidas

Defenseman Stephane Robidas

Born: March 3, 1977 in Sherbrooke, Quebec (35)

HT: 5-11, Wt: 196

Shoots: Right

Acquired: Signed by Dallas as a free agent Aug. 6, 2005.

Last season: 75 GP _ 5G _ 17A _ 22Pts _ -5 _ 22:45

Contract status: In third year of four-year contract that averages $3.3 million. He will make $3.55 in 2012-13.

If actions speak louder than words, then Stephane Robidas has clearly been the Most Valuable Player on the Stars for the past four seasons. Three different assistant coaches have made him the most used player (or close to it) on the team in each of those seasons _ and that is a heck of a statement.

Robidas clearly is a warrior who has fought to be a greater player than anyone ever expected. He might symbolize all that is good about the team in this most recent era…and also what is lacking.

Because, on most teams, Robidas probably shouldn’t be your No. 1 defenseman. He is not big at 5-11, 196. He is not especially fast or skilled. He is not a power play quarterback who will dazzle with a big shot or an amazing eye. He is good…very good at times…but that hasn’t always been good enough for a team that has missed the playoffs for four straight seasons.

And yet that doesn’t mean he should blamed for the short-comings of the past or tossed aside for the future. No, Robidas might still be one of the most important players on the Stars, if they can find a way to use him properly and support him with more depth on defense.

The first part of that process is recognizing that he needs to slide down the scale of defenseman. That process started last season when Robidas saw his minutes cut from 24:31 in 2010-11 to 22:45. His average actually slipped behind Alex Goligoski by one second last season, but that total was a little misleading, as Robidas played 44 seconds per game less on the power play and typically had the toughest minutes of any defenseman. If you ask most, he was considered the team’s best defenseman last season.

And that is where the Stars might need some help. Yes, Robidas has to play hard minutes. Yes, he is a veteran defender who is smart and calm. Yes, he is often the best option for coach Glen Gulutzan and assistant Paul Jerrard in many situations. But they can’t just toss out two 30+ defensemen out there when times get tough the way they did with Robidas and Sheldon Souray last season. They have to integrate Goligoski and Trevor Daley into tougher assignments. The front office has to keep its eye out for a possible trade that could upgrade the defense going forward.

They have to give Robidas a break.

Now what’s great about Robidas (even at age 35) is he still can help a great deal. His role now might be to support a player like Brenden Dillon or Jamie Oleksiak or Patrik Nemeth, and to show him the ropes. Both Robidas and Philip Larsen are the rare right-handed defensemen on this team, so they likely won’t work together, but he also could help Larsen take the next step.

Because the thing about Robidas is he has fought and struggled and worked…and succeeded. The Stars picked him on waivers the first time around from Montreal, dealt him to Chicago and then watched as the Blackhawks failed to re-sign him. When Dallas finally secured Robidas for good, it was as a free agent…in August. Nobody else seemed to want him, and now you wonder how others didn’t see in him what the Stars have seen.

From GMs to head coaches to assistants in charge of the defense.

So while many ponder a possible trade of Robidas in order to clear the path for younger players or a big name defenseman, there’s a real chance he continues to do good work with the Stars for the next two seasons (or more). He can help this team…just not as the No. 1 defenseman.